What's going on in the NT parliament

Kezia Purick is outspoken as the independent Member for Goyder, and respected for standing up for her constituents. As Speaker she has been regarded as fair and impartial.

SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

The government has tried to ram through legislation on urgency rather than negotiating and compromising, which Labor and the independents rejected, wanting more thorough consultation.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE ADS?

The government spat the dummy and took out two full-page newspaper ads naming all MPs it falsely said blocked anti-drugs legislation. The Speaker tried to have the privileges committee examine whether the government was in contempt, but the government shut it down thanks to the support of CLP member-turned-independent Larisa Lee.

WHAT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY NIGHT?

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The government accused Purick of attacking government MPs on social media. It won a motion to unseat her, with Lee's support, but Purick was nominated again for the vacant speakership and won it, thanks to an anonymous government MP who flipped during the secret ballot.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Labor will move a no confidence motion in a fortnight. It will need all seven Labor MPs and all six independents - including Ms Lee, or a government turncoat - to pass. If it does, the earliest an election could be called would be late January, as opposed to the current fixed date of August 27.